Korean American female pastors push back against patriarchy

Lee’s success story is rare in the realm of Korean American churches, where women are seldom seen in the pulpits. Photos: AP

When the Rev. Kyunglim Shin Lee was ordained in 1988, it angered her in-laws for contravening long-held Korean cultural values subordinating women’s roles in society.

Even her husband, a pastor, told her he understood intellectually "but his heart couldn’t accept it.”Those reactions broke Lee’s heart – and steeled her resolve. Today she is vice president for international relations at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC; has traveled to 60 countries as the seminary's ambassador; and once served as interim lead pastor at a Korean American church for 11 months. Along the journey, she visualised herself as a speeding train.